Tray for paint can



Nov. 14, 1967' J. RAWLINS 3,352,450

TRAY FOR PAINT CAN Filed March 10, 1966 INVENTOR.

JULIA RAWLI NS United States Patent 3,352,450 TRAY FOR PAINT CAN Julia Rawlins, Box 24, Pottersville, N.Y. 12860 Filed Mar. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 533,278 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-85) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tray for use with a paint can for collecting excess paint flowing and dripping down the sides of the paint can wherein said tray comprises an annular portion and a center portion separated from each other by a channel groove, wherein said annular portion is for-med as a descending slope inwardly directed to said center portion, wherein said center portion carries a magnet to hold the paint cans metal bottom in disposed relationship therewith, and wherein said channel groove functions as a collecting reservoir for the excess paint.

This invention relates to a tray for use with a paint can.

Paint in the paint can is removed therefrom by pouring a quantity of the paint from the paint can or by immersion of a paint brush in the paint to soak up a quantity of the paint. Such type of removal of the paint results in an accumulation of paint in the channel formed in the top portion of a conventional paint can. Along with excess accumulation of paint in the channel, the paint builds up in the channel, and flows over the upper rim of the paint can and drips down the sides of the paint can. Another cause of paint flowing over the upper rim of the paint can and dripping down the sides of the paint can arises when a wet paint brush is disposed in such position on the top open portion of the paint can that paint from the wet paint brush is allowed to drip into the channel and/or drip down the sides of the paint can. Another cause, of course, arises from individual carelessness in handling an open paint can.

This problem and nuisance of excess paint accumulation with resultant flow and dripping down the sides of the paint can is recurring at practically every time and occasion of paint brush immersion or pouring of paint from the paint can. The frequency with which an individual will be confronted with this described problem and nuisance depends upon the individuals neatness, skill and ability in painting and handling his paint brush.

This described problem and nuisance is not only messy and troublesome, but also can be expensive from a damage point of view. Paint flowing and drippingdown the sides of the paint can leaves paint spots or a paint ring on the floor, furniture or object upon which the paint can is placed. Paint spotted or paint ringed furniture can produce the need for expensive refinishing.

Newspaper or cloth placed beneath the paint can will provide somewhat of a physical barrier to prevent dripping paint from spotting or forming a ring on the floor, furniture or object upon which the paint can is placed. However, paint is sticky and acts like a glue upon drying with the result that the lower rim and bottom of the paint can often become stuck to the newspaper or cloth. Then too, the dripping paint soon soaks through the newspaper or cloth with the result that the discussed problem and nuisance has not been solved and eliminated, but only delayed.

Therefore, the object of this invention is to solve this described and discussed problem of the art by providing a tray adapted to receive and have emplaced thereon a paint can. A paint can which has a metal bottom is held by a magnet carried by the center portion of the tray.

, 3,352,450 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 The tray has an annular portion which is of a descending slope or decline directed inwardly to the center portion of the tray. This annular portion has alternating raised portions of convex configuration and spaces, and with the raised portions being at a higher level than the spaces. The annular portion terminates in a circular channel groove separating the annular and center portions of the tray, and the channel groove functions as a paint collecting reservoir. Accordingly, paint flowing and dripping down the sides of the paint can to its lower rim will flow by means of gravity from the convex-configured, raised portions upon which the lower rim of the paint can rests, to the spaces and thence into the channel groove.

This object and other objects of the invention should be discerned and appreciated from the detailed specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the tray; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a sectional view as same would appear in the showing of a paint can emplaced in position upon the tray.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally refers to the invention of the tray. Tray 1 is made of plastic or other suitable material such as cardboard coated with a suitable resin to resist being soaked through by paint or other liquids utilized in painting.

Tray 1 has an annular portion 3 sloped inwardly at a decline toward the center of tray 1. Formed in the annular portion 3 are alternating raised portions of substantially convex configuration and spaces 7. The raised portions 5 are at a higher level than the spaces 7. The raised portions 5 and spaces 7 further cooperate to provide and impart strength and structural rigidity to tray 1.

A circular channel groove 9 formed in tray 1 separates the annular portion 3 from the center portion 11. The channel groove 9 functions as a paint collecting reservoir, and also provides and imparts strength and structural rigidity to tray 1. Imbedded or otherwise suitably afiixed to the center portion 11 of the tray 1 is the magnet 13.

The lower portion of the rolled-under rim 15, formed at the periphery of tray 1, is coplanar with the lower portion of channel groove 9. Rim 15 provides and imparts strength and structural rigidity to tray 1. Groove 9 and rim 15 further cooperate to maintain tray 1, with a paint can thereon, in its shape and configuration as shown, and to allow minimum contact of tray 1 with the floor, furniture or object upon which tray 1 is placed.

It is within the concept of this invention to form the raised portions 5 of other than the geometric configuration described and shown herein. For example, the raised portions 5 can be of triangular configuration.

Shown in FIG. 3 is a paint can 17 emplaced on the tray 1. The metal bottom 19 of paint can 17 is attracted to and held by magnet 13 thereby maintaining the paint can 17 on tray 1 in its emplaced disposition thereon, and with lower rim 21 of the paint can 17 engaging in point to point contact the highest points of the convex configurations of the raised portions 5. Hence, paint flowing and dripping down the sides of paint can 17 will be directed by gravity to flow downwardly along the con- Vex raised portions 5 to the spaces 7 at a lower level; and since the lower rim 21 of the paint can 17 rests upon the highest points of the convex configurations of the raised portions 5 at minimal point to point contact, there will be minimal cleaning required of the lower rim 21 upon removal of the paint can 17 from tray 1. Accordingly, most of the paint which flows and drips down the sides of paint can 17 will flow to the lower level spaces 7. And since these lower level spaces 7 are elements of the annular portion 3 which is formed as an inwardly directed descending slope, the paint will further be directed by gravity to flow along the spaces 7 to the circular channel groove 9' Where the paint will collect' Inasmuch as magnet 13 holds the paint can bottom 19 in its disposed relationship on tray 1, it should be appreciat'ed that the mess, chance at mishap, time consuming and time wasting efiort heretofore occasioned in moving the paint can 17 to a new location for resumption of painting is eliminated by use of the tray 1. For all the painter need do in moving the paint can 17 to a newlocation is to and carry the paint can 17 to its new location therebycarrying tray 1 thereto at the same time.

Having thusly described my invention, I claim:

A tray for use With a paint can for collecting excess paint flowing and dripping down the sides of the paint can, said tray having an annular portion and a center portion, said annular portion being formed as a descending slope inwardly directed to said center portion, said merely lift the handle of the paint can 17' annular portion having alternating raised portions of convex configuration and spaces, said raised portions being at a higher level than said spaces, said tray further having a channel groove formed therein and a rolled-under rim, said channel groove and rim having coplanar lower portions, said channel groove separating said annular portion from said center portion, said channel groove functioning as a collecting reservoir for the excess paint, and said center portion carrying a magnet to hold in disposed relationship on saidtray a paintcan having a metal bottom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 424,028 3/1890 Sautter a 215-100 2,802,411 8/1957 Biener 220-72 2,856,095 10/1958 Schnabel 2l5100 3,013,688 12/1961 Luning 215-100 RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner. 

